Eagle basketball teams welcome challenge of upcoming seasons

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Morehead State University’s basketball squads have focused their talents, dedication and desire to help put MSU on the map. Now, the men’s and women’s teams plan to grow the profile and legacy of Eagle basketball by taking on challenging schedules for the 2012-13 season.

Under the direction of Sean Woods, the men’s squad has a 31-game slate, including 13 dates with teams that made the 2011-12 postseason.

Two games of interest include a showdown with defending national champion Kentucky the night before Thanksgiving at Rupp Arena, and Dec. 28 when former Eagle Head Coach Donnie Tyndall (93) and his assistants return to Johnson Arenawith Southern Mississippi.

The men’s nonconference schedule will also include matchups with 2012 postseason participants Marshall, North Dakota State and Indiana State before beginning its 16-game Ohio Valley Conference season with a home game against SIUEdwardsville on Jan. 3.

“We definitely have our work cut out for us with this challenging schedule, but that’s OK,” Woods said. “My teams at Mississippi Valley State played very tough schedules – and that won’t change at Morehead State.”

The MSU women’s squad also has its work cut out prior to and during Ohio Valley Conference play, with eight contests against 2012 postseason teams. The hard work will start immediately when the Eagles begin the ledger in the preseason WNIT atIllinois State.

The women’s squad will face nonconference opponents such as Xavier, Kentucky, Ohio, Georgia State and UAB on the road. The Eagles will also host non-league foes like Western Kentucky and Kent State at Johnson Arena.

“All of those games will be extremely challenging but will be exactly what we need to prepare us for the gauntlet of OVC play,” said third-year Head Coach Tom Hodges. “We have put this schedule together to test our young ladies and ultimately make us the toughest and most battle-tested team as we look to contend for the OVC Championship.”

MSU’s basketball teams will experience the league transitioning to a divisional format in 2012-13. MSU will be in the East Division and face Belmont, Eastern Kentucky, Jacksonville State, Tennessee State and Tennessee Tech twice in a homeand-home format while clashing with West Division opponents only once in the regular season.

"We have a solid mix of quality returning players and accomplished newcomers. I’m confident we will play a fast-paced and entertaining brand of basketball. I call it organized chaos. We’re looking forward to seeing lots of Eagle fans throughout the season." – Sean Woods, Head Men’s Basketball Coach

"We are excited and anxious to attack the 2012-13 schedule. Our nonconference slate will certainly challenge us early and often in the months of November and December." – Tom Hodges, Head Women’s Basketball Coach